559 research outputs found
Bronchial reactivity in asthmatic children at high and low altitude. Effect of budesonide
No full textInhaled steroids may control bronchial inflammation in asthmatics exposed to allergens. In this study we evaluated whether prophylactic budesonide would prevent relapse of asthma in children re-exposed to offending allergens at sea level, after a period of antigen avoidance at high altitude. Thirty children received either budesonide (200 micrograms b.i.d.) or placebo (double-blind). Following a 4-wk baseline period and 2 wk of treatment at high altitude, children were treated for 3 mo at sea level. Methacholine challenge and pulmonary function studies were performed before and after baseline period, after the 2 wk of treatment in the mountain environment, and at the end of treatment. ECP serum levels were evaluated after the baseline period and at the end of treatment. PEFR and symptoms were recorded in a diary card during the study. The increase in methacholine provocative dosage was greater, although not significant (p = 0.096), in the budesonide than in the placebo group after the treatment at high altitude and remained higher at the end of the treatment (p = 0.04). ECP levels increased in both the groups with no significant difference. Our results confirm that budesonide, in addition to its efficacy in treating pre-existent airway inflammation, is effective in preventing the increase of reactivity in asthmatic children re-exposed to allergens
Effect of natural allergen avoidance on heath-labile chemotactic activities for eosinophils (HL-ECA) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) in allergic children
No full textEffect of natural allergen avoidance on heath-labile chemotactic activities for eosinophils (HL-ECA) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) in allergic childre
Effects of high altitude on eosinophil cationic protein serum levels in asthmatic allergic children
No full textExperimental study on the effect of high altitude on airway inflammatio
Eosinophils and serum eosinophilic cationic proteins in interleukin-2- based immunotherapy for cancer [3]
No full textNO ABSTRAC
Effects of antigen avoidance in high altitude on eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX) and specific IgE for dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) serum levels in asthmatic children
No full textStudy on the effects of antigen avoidance in high altitude on eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX) and specific IgE for dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) serum levels in asthmatic childre
Influence of allergen avoidance at high altitude on serum markers of eosinophil activation in children with allergic asthma.
No full textA cohort of 12 asthmatic children was followed over several months, during which
they moved back and forth from an allergen-free to an allergen-rich environment
at high and low altitude, respectively. The children were treated with
non-steroidal anti-asthmatic drugs as clinically needed. Histamine PC20-FEV1 was
unaltered during the study period, whereas serum levels of eosinophil cationic
protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) showed significant changes when the
children were exposed to the offending allergens. The total IgE significantly
increased during exposure. The serum levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) as well as
of chemotactic factors for both neutrophils and eosinophils were unaltered during
allergen exposure. We conclude that the serum markers of eosinophil activity ECP
and EPX are sensitive indices of allergen exposure in asthmatic atopic children
Effects of high altitude on eosinophil protein X (EPX) serum levels and specific IgE for pteronyssinus (Dpt) and farinae (Df) in asthmatic children
No full textStudy on th effects of high altitude on eosinophil protein X (EPX) serum levels and specific IgE for pteronyssinus (Dpt) and farinae (Df) in asthmatic childre
Proteomic analysis of human cervical-vaginal fluids
No full textThe pathophysiology of vaginal conditions is still
ill-defined at a molecular level. Because the proteome of
the human cervical-vaginal fluid (CVF) has not been
reported to date, we undertook the identification of
proteins present in the cell-free fraction of these fluids.
Proteins were separated bidimensionally (2-D) by isoelectrofocusing
(pH 3-11) followed by SDS-polyacrylamide
electrophoresis. The proteins of 147 spots were identified
by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization-time-offlight-
mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). This approach
was supplemented by immunoassays for markers
of neutrophils (myeloperoxidase, MPO; neutrophil gelatinase-
associated lipocalin, NGAL/HNL) and eosinophils
(eosinophil cationic protein: ECP) and by immunoblotting
(lactoferrin, calgranulins A and B and annexins A1 and
A3. Nearly half of the proteins (69/147) and protein
fragments detected were found to be plasma components,
on the basis of which the human CVF can be
broadly considered a plasma transudate. Although the
pattern of protein spots was very similar for all fluids
analyzed, a relative overabundance of major plasma
proteins such as albumin, transferrin, immunoglobulins,
apolipoproteins, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 1, and calgranulins
was associated with the presence of a high
number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the lavages
from which those cell-free fluids had been obtained.
Instead, fluids from women experiencing vulvovaginal
candidiasis did not show differences in the protein maps
compared with asymptomatic individuals. Neutrophil and
eosinophil granule secretion proteins were also detected
in variable amounts in the lavage fluids by both immunoassay
and immunoblotting, indicating polymorphonuclear
cell activation.
Keywords: cervical-vaginal fluid ¥ plasma proteins ¥ neutrophil
and eosinophil activatio
Cardiac troponin : a critical review of the case for point-of-care testing in the ED
No full textThe measurement of cardiac troponin concentrations in the blood is a key element in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes, according to current guidelines, and contributes importantly to the ruling in or ruling out of acute myocardial infarction. The introduction
of point-of-care testing for cardiac troponin has the potential to reduce turnaround time for assay results, compared with central laboratory testing, optimizing resource use. Although, in general, many point-of-care cardiac troponin tests are less sensitive than cardiac troponin tests developed for central laboratory–automated analyzers, point-of-care systems have been used successfully within accelerated protocols for the reliable ruling out of acute coronary syndromes, without increasing
subsequent readmission rates for this condition. The impact of shortened assay turnaround times with point-of-care technology on length of stay in the emergency department has been limited to date, with most randomized evaluations of this technology having demonstrated little or no reduction in this outcome parameter. Accordingly, the point-of-care approach has not been shown to be cost-effective relative to central laboratory testing. Modeling studies suggest, however, that
reengineering overall procedures within the emergency department setting, to take full advantage of reduced therapeutic turnaround time, has the potential to improve the flow of patients through the emergency department, to shorten discharge times, and to reduce cost. To properly evaluate the potential contribution of point-of-care technology in the emergency department, including its cost-effectiveness, future evaluations of point-of-care platforms will need to be embedded completely within a local decision-making structure designed for its use
Monitoring the allergic inflammation
No full textIndividual symptoms of allergy such as asthma, dermatitis, rhinitis have many different underlying mechanisms. The detailed characterization of the inflammatory mechanisms underlying symptom development in the individual patient is important in order to optimally control treatment. Measurement of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in sputum or blood and eosinophil protein X/eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN) in urine may be used to read the involvement of the eosinophil granulocyte in the process. An important information as eosinophil dominated processes seem to be particularly sensitive to corticosteroid treatment. The possibilities to measure the involvement of other inflammatory cells exist today, but are only used to a small extent. The dream would be that every patient with an inflammatory disease is characterized with respect to the profile of involving cells and mediators. Such information would provide us with a unique understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the development of disease symptoms and the possibilities of treating these.</p
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